For the Holidays: A Watch to Take From Work to the Party

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Now that I've been writing this watch column for a few months, I get requests from readers who, for some reason, continue on from The Style Blog and track me down on Tumblr. Like this note, from a man named Ian, who lives in Seattle: "Hey Jeremy, I'm looking for a watch I can wear to the office with my suit that I can also wear out on the town. Looking for something classic and understated."

Well, first, let me congratulate you on preparing to invest in a quality timepiece. Obviously, I'm a bit biased here. But aside from Apple stock, wristwatches are one of the best investments a man can make right now.

And, while I hate to use the phrase "two-in-one" — it sounds too cheap — that's exactly what I'm about to suggest: Among all the "transitional watches" out there, my favorite is still the Reverso Duo from Jaeger LeCoultre. Quite literally, it's two faces within one watch.

The Reverso was first released in 1931 as the watch for Polo players who wanted to protect their watch during the match. You could flip the face to reveal a steel back (thus protecting the crystal) while playing. It has since evolved into countless other models, never straying from that face-flipping mentality.

For the holiday season and its associated parties, the Reverso Duo is the perfect option for men facing this day-to-night conundrum. At work, the white face will glow under those fluorescent lights in your office. And for evening, a sleek black face looks nice with a tuxedo. Note that even if you haven't the budget for a Reverso, this black-and-white strategy can also help you find more affordable watches; you'll need two, obviously. But if you can swing the one I'm suggesting, you'll be in good company: Don Draper wears one. And today's man of the hour, Ryan Gosling, has three. You know, just in case one gets left on her nightstand.